European bitterling
📖 Overview
Occurs most abundantly in still or slow-flowing water with dense aquatic vegetation and sand-silt bottom as lowland ponds, canals, slow-flowing rivers, backwaters and oxbows, where mussels are present . Found among plants over sand and muddy bottoms in shallow waters. Remarkable for its habit of deposing its eggs in the cavity of bivalves (Unio). Feeds mainly on plants and to a lesser degree on worms, crustaceans, and insect larvae. Formerly used for pregnancy tests: females injected with urine from pregnant women protruded their ovipositors . Live span is exceptionally up to 5 years but most individuals do not survive the year of their first reproduction and population sizes fluctuate greatly over the years .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 34 - 36. Caudal fin with 19 to 20 soft rays. Differs from Rhodeus meridionalis by having sub-inferior mouth (vs. terminal), rostral cap covering all or at least more than half of upper lip (vs. only upper part of upper lip) .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for European bitterling is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for European bitterling is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Spawns in clear, slow-running or still water, often with a muddy bottom. The presence of nearby freshwater mussels is of vital importance. Female deposits eggs within the valves of the mussel. Male sheds sperm into the inhalent current of the respiring mussel and thereby, fertilizes the eggs. Fry remain in the mussel until protection is not anymore required.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - ? m. Temperate; 60°N - 40°N central and eastern Europe and northern Asia Minor (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
plants and to a lesser degree on worms, crustaceans, and insect larvae
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | European Bitterling · bitterling |
| 🌍CES | Hořavka hořká · hořavka duhová |
| 🌍CYM | Chwerwod · chwerwyn |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Blåfisk · Europæisk bitterling · bitterling |
| 🇩🇪German | Bitterling · Paffendume |
| 🌍ELL | Μουρμουρίτσα |
| 🌍EST | Euroopa mõrukas |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | katkerokala |
| 🇫🇷French | Bitterling · Bouvière · Péteuse · Rosière |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Gavčica |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Szivárványos ökle |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Rodeo |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ヨーロッパバラタナゴ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 유럽납줄개 |
| 🌍LAV | Spidiļķis |
| 🌍LIT | Paprastoji kartuolė · kartuolė |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | bittervoorn |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Rózanka europejska |
| 🌍RON | Behlita · Blehnita · Boarca · Boarta · Bortanica · Burtica · Chisoaga · Plutica |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Горчак европейский · Пузанк · европейский горчак |
| 🌍SLK | lopatka dúhová |
| 🌍SLV | pezdirk |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Bermejuela Europea |
| 🌍SQI | idhtaku |
| 🌍SRP | Gavčica |
| 🌍TUR | acı balık |
| 🌍UKR | гірчак європейський |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprinus amarus | Bloch | 1782 | Homotypic |
| Rhodeus genitalis | Walecki | 1863 | Synonym |
| Rhodeus lucinae | Walecki | 1863 | Synonym |
| Rhodeus sericeus amarus | Bloch | 1782 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 32 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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